Management Blog

Grey entrepreneurs are on their way

Global economic uncertainty has seen the rise of a new kind of new business operator in the US - the grey entrepreneur, Business Week reports.

According to the article, many over 55s feel that starting their own business is the only solution after being forced to enter a highly competitive, youth-focused employment market.

The article warns Boomer startup founders that they may encounter a steeper learning curve about all things small business than they expected. Long working hours are another tough wakeup call.

But what Boomers do have in their favour is wisdom, and a desire to be good by doing good: it's argued older workers possess the knowhow to create both new opportunities and social change.

Boring bosses do it better

You don't necessarily need good people skills to be a good boss, according New York Times columnist David Brooks.

Brooks bases his contention on a recent study that found attributes such as good communication skills, enthusiasm and team building prowess don't necessarily result in better managerial performance.

According to the study, the traits that do correlate with good management include attention to detail, persistence, efficiency, analytic thoroughness and hard work.

Being a little on the boring side is also said to help. The story claims CEOs who are humble, diffident, relentless and a bit unidimensional are often more likely to succeed.

Not surprisingly the claims have attracted impassioned criticism.

Online newspaper The Huffington Post claims dullness equates to status quo and any manager who isn't a good communicator or listener is not well equipped to prosper in the global economy.

The skills shortage continues: survey

Nearly a third of the world's managers say they are still struggling to find skilled employees despite the global economic crisis, management-issues reports.

A recent survey of nearly 39,000 employers found skill shortages are being experienced in the areas of manual trades, sales, technical trades, engineering and management.

Survey author Manpower Recruitment claims the problem is at an acute level in a number of countries including Australia, Romania, Taiwan, Peru, Japan and Costa Rica

Manpower says skills shortages are being experienced despite growing unemployment because many companies are looking for employees with specialised rather than general skills.

Advice for micromanagers

Micromanagers take note: being involved in as many organisational processes as possible may make you feel in control, but it also has the potential to limit your success.

A recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece highlighted the dangers of micromanaging – a trait that's defined as an unwillingness to trust subordinates.   

It's claimed micromanaging can be counterproductive as it makes subordinates feel disempowered and damages staff morale in general.

Accordingly, it's suggested managers avoid thinking that staff are incapable of making decisions; they are also encouraged to recognise that frontline employees are often the best problem solvers. 

Other tips for managers wishing to loosen the reins a little include:

• Communicating expectations clearly
• Focusing on hiring and placing staff
• Giving employees more decision-making powers
• Asking for suggestions from staff
• Avoiding the temptation to take over at the first sign of trouble

Management - Star Trek style

The latest Star Trek film isn't just a good dose of sci-fi fun, it also offers managers a number of lessons on how lead to during a crisis, a recent Fast Company article suggests.

To prove its point the magazine examined Star Trek movies and TV episodes, old and new, to identify 12 quotes on leadership. Here are just a few:

• On setting realistic goals: "Genius doesn't work on an assembly line basis. You can't simply say, 'Today I will be brilliant.'" - Capt. James T. Kirk
• On creativity: "Things are only impossible until they're not." - Capt. Jean-Luc Picard
• On position: "One of the advantages of being Captain is being able to ask for advice without necessarily having to take it." - Kirk
• On planning ahead: "We must anticipate, and not make the same mistake once." - Picard

More Star Trek quotes can be found here.

Why managers shouldn't judge by appearances

The story of Susan Boyle, a 47-year-old unemployed singer from the UK who's taken the world by storm, offers a timely reminder for managers not to judge their staff on face value, a recent Harvard Business blog posts argues.

'How We Work' blogger Peter Bregman posits that behind every initially underestimated person like Susan Boyle is a great manager, someone capable of glimpsing extraordinary talent behind a not so flashy exterior.

Bregman writes: "Good managers help their employees succeed in whatever role they happen to be in. Great managers see the unique talents of each employee, and then create the role that's a perfect vehicle for those talents."

And what kind of effect does this process have on productivity?

A recent University of Pennsylvania study suggests managers who frequently recognise and encourage their staff can see an increase in productivity of 31 per cent.

Making excessive stress a 'no go' zone

Stress is a double-edged sword, according to a recent Harvard Business blog post.

On the one hand, it can assist professionals to focus on important jobs and help them perform at the top of their game. But in some instances it can kill concentration and result in forgetfulness and irritability.

The key to finding the right amount of stress is to avoid excessive workplace pressures, a goal that can be achieved by making a few lifestyle changes.

According to the blog post, these include:

• Sleep easy – get a deep regenerative night's sleep (one that includes dreaming) 
• Exercise – a good workout can work off excessive stress
• Eat well – stick to a diet filled with fruit and vegetables
• Be positive – the power of positive thinking can neutralise stress

Another tip (one that's not mentioned by Harvard Business) is to make peace with your stress-inducing office photocopier or printer. It could help you avoid a scene like the one below:

Learning to avoid perfectionism

Perfectionism isn't something to be proud of, it's a personality trait that managers should avoid at all costs, a recent management-issues' Workplace Excellence blog argues.

It's claimed perfectionism is a mental obstacle that can stop professionals from getting their work done and, as a result, can cause stress, tension and fatigue.

So what's the best way to overcome the beast that is perfectionism?

Blog author and management trainer Dan Bobinski says perfectionism can be tackled by taking a more light-hearted approach to completing work tasks.

Being patient with work processes is also suggested as is avoiding self-criticism and feelings of disapproval.

Tips for putting customer service first

Most marketers know that customer service can ultimately make or break a brand but this vital part of the branding puzzle rarely gets the attention it deserves, a recent Harvard Business blog argues.

Marketers are reminded that the benefits of strategically developed customer service processes include enhanced customer attainment and retention, a strong point of difference and greater brand loyalty.

In order to use customer service more effectively a number of tips are offered. In summary, these include:

• Implementing C-level driven customer service initiatives across the entire organisation
• Recognising that human-assisted customer service is vital for some customer segments and not necessary for others
• Developing metrics that respond to individual company situations rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach
• Ensuring knowledge bases are uniform across all customer service channels for streamlined interactions

Talky teams aren't productive: study

When it comes to effective business communication there is a danger in talking too much, a new study has found.

According to management-issues, University of North Carolina researchers have found teams that over-talk can be less effective than those that simply get on with the job.

The study of more than 4,800 groups concluded many teams often spend too much time discussing information everyone in the group already knows.

In contrast, the study found the best performing teams concentrated on sharing new information.

The study also found groups in which members spoke more openly tended to have better relationships with one another, but paradoxically this connection didn't translate to better performance.